Petition from inhabitants of Guilford County concerning the pardon of John Pugh, including related certification and depositions

Lane, Tidence; Et Al.

August 31,
1771

Volume 09, Pages 29-32

[From MS. Records in Office of Secretary of State.]

To his Excellency Josiah Martin Esqr his Majesties Captain General, Governor & Commander in Chief in and over the Province of North Carolina

The Petition of Sundry of the Inhabitants of Gilford County humbly Sheweth—

That Whereas it appears by general Proclamation that a Certain John Pugh Stands out Lawd for Committing Several acts of outrage on the twenty fourth and twenty fifth of Septr 1770 During the Seting of the Superior Court of Justice held for the Destrict of hillsborough to the Distubance of his Majesties Peace.

Whereas we your Petitionors have been well aquainted with Sd John Pugh this nine or ten years Past and never knew any thing of him but that he Behaved himself Soberly Honestly and Industrusly as Becomes a good member of Society and a Subject of Great Brittain and being Concious of his Loyalty to his gracious Sovereign king george the third now upon the Brittish throne and his Detestation to all Rebellious or Illegal Proceedings and knowing himself absolutely Clear of the Crime Charged in the Indictment he thought of Necessaty that he was not the John Pugh Intended in the indictment and therefore Neglected giving himself up Agreeable to the Lemited time Specified in the Proclamation and as he was forced to Betake himself to Distant Parts for his Safety Leaving a wife & one

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Small Child in the utmost Extremity for want of that Relief & Support he as a Husband and father is in Duty Bound to administer unto them. We therefore Humby Pray that your Excellency in your great goodness may be Pleased to Extend to him his Majesties most gracious Pardon that he may again be Entitled to the Same Rights & Previledges of the Respt of his Majesties Subjects and your Petitioners as in Duty Bound shall ever Pray.
August 31: 1771.

Tidence Lane

Semore York

James Billingslee

Shubal Stearns

William Welborn

Thomas J Witt

Jacob Hinshaw

Thomas Hinshaw

Joseph Hinshaw

Willm Hinshaw Senr

John Hinshaw

William Hinshaw

William Walker

T Samuel Walker Jur

Laughlin Campbell

Daniel Campbell

Malcomb Campbell

John Campbell

John Lowe

Aquila Jones

John Richerson

Samuel Allen

———

To his Excellency Josiah Martin Esqr his Majestys Captain General, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the Province of North Carolina.

Whereas John Pugh Has Required of us the subscribed A few Lines of Recommendation we the Subscribers Do Sertify upon His A Count that we Have Known Him to Bee a Dweller this Nine or ten year Amongst us and that we Never Knew any thing of the said Pugh But that He Behaved Himself Honestly and Soberly and Justly Amungst us and we Never Knew anything But that he was A true and Loial Subject to the King of Great Brittain whereas he is outlaw'd for Breaking up the Kings Court and other Riots Commited at sd Court we Certify that He wasnt not there by information therefore we &c., Beg the Gracious favor of his Excellency for His pardon.

And: we the subscribers Ever pray

August ye 31st 1771

Thomas Hinshaw

William Hinshaw

John Hinshaw

William Hinshaw

Shubal Stearns

William Welborn

Elias Coin

John Welborn

Stephen Harlow

Jacob Hinshaw

William Morley

Charles Jones

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William Walker

Laughlin Campbell

Malcomb Campbell

Daniel Campbell

John Campbell

John York

Isaac Corven

Ezra Hinshaw

Thomas Swink

Joseph Hinshaw

John Low

Aquilla Jones

Samuel Jones

William Low

William Ward

Tidence Lane

Samore York

James Billingslee

———

The Depusion of Elizabeth Jones the Deponant Saith that Shee Saw John Pugh the twenty third Day of September 1770 in the Evening Near or about forty Miles Distance from Hillsborough

The Depusion of Elizabeth Pugh the Deponent Saith that Shee Knew John Pugh to be about his Lawful Business the twenty fourth and fifth Days of September 1770 Near and about forty miles from Hillsborough

The Depusion of Peninah Pugh the Deponant Saith that Shee Knew John Pugh to Bee about His Lawfull Business the twenty fourth and fifth Days of Septembr 1770 Near or about forty Miles Distance from Hillsborough.

The Depusion of Ann Jones the Deponant Saith that Shee Saw John Pugh the twenty third and twenty fifth Days of September 1770 about His Lawful Business Near or about forty Miles Distance from Hillsborough

Sworn Before Me

JOHN LOW

August ye 31 1771

The Depusion of Samuel Walker the Deponant Saith that He Saw John Pugh about His Lawfull Business the twenty forth and twenty fifth Day of September 1770, Ner and about forty miles Distance from Hillsborough

The Depusion of John Marsh the Deponant Saith that He Saw John Pugh the twenty fifth Day of September 1770 About His Lawfull Business Ner or about forty Miles Distanc from Hilsborough

The Depusion of William Savage the Deponant Saith that He Saw John Pugh the twenty fifth Day of September 1770 Ner the Middle of the Day Near or About forty miles Distance from Hillsborough

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The Depusion of Cathren Marley the Deponant Saith that She Saw John Pugh the twenty fifth Day of September 1770 Near About two of the Clock in the Day aplowing and the Deponant farther Sayeth that Said Pugh Enquired whether She Had Heard any News from Court She Replyed She Had not Said Pugh Said that He Had Not Heard and Wanted to Hear.